Joined: 29 Sep 2004Posts: 1196Location: buried under a pile of books somewhere in Adelaide, South Australia

Posted: Fri Mar 14, 2008 5:44 am Post subject:

NQJC, I'm going to be in Paris at the same time as you. We should organise a C&Z meet up on April 13th or 14th before you leave Paris._________________Doing what you like is freedom
Liking what you do is happiness

NQJC,
Sorry to be a little while getting back to you - just had to do a bit of digging in my guidebook (and memories). I'm afraid I've never actually been to Valencay itself, though I'm a big fan of the cheese (which comes plain or rolled in wood ash - try both!). Apparently the town's market day is Tuesday mornings, and I'm sure it's worth checking out... in addition to cheese, you should catch the first white asparagus of the year (one of the region's other great treats). As for other produce available this time of year, the Loire Valley is one of the major fruit- and veg-growing areas of France, so you should have a wide choice.

Another important piece of advice for the Loire Valley - do not feel you need to visit all the chateaux. You will drive yourself crazy, they will all become a blur, and they're really not all equally interesting! Here's my top 5 (in no particular order):

Chenonceau (probably the most beautiful, with a very dramatic setting - half of it is built over the river Cher)
Azay-le-Rideau (another dramatic setting, on an island in the Indre)
Blois (a graceful mishmash of architectural styles)
Chambord (the biggest and most over-the-top)
Loches (the spookiest, especially the dungeons)

You're also about halfway between Bourges and Tours, both of which are worth a visit - Bourges for its gorgeous cathedral and Hotel Jacques Coeur and Tours for its lovely old quarter, cathedral, some good restaurants and the marvellous shop Le Livre Tournois (a great source of macarons, stuffed prunes and other local delicacies).

Oh, and don't pass up the chance to have tarte tatin while you're there - you'll be in its native land!

Oh dear! We will be heading South to the house we have rented on the 11th! How long are you to be there and maybe I can venture back for a day.

Rachel,
WOW thank you! I am just picking the first of my asparagus today. I hate that my husband is missing this first tender picking but the children and I are going to enjoy it!

Great information. I am happy to know we will have good access to fresh vegetables. And thanks for the heads up on the chateaux. You are perfectly right, we couldnt decide how we would see them all! And we do want also to visit Parc Da Vinci (I think that is correct).

It is getting closer and closer and I am no more ready!_________________There is immeasurable value in what I do. I will never believe otherwise.
www.notquitejunecleaver.com

I really think we will. How in the world could we see all we want to see in only two days! Are you staying in Paris the whole time?_________________There is immeasurable value in what I do. I will never believe otherwise.
www.notquitejunecleaver.com

Joined: 29 Sep 2004Posts: 1196Location: buried under a pile of books somewhere in Adelaide, South Australia

Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 12:49 am Post subject:

No, we're planning a side trip to Normandy, and will spend time at the Somme around Anzac Day. But we will spend the majority of our trip in Paris. I haven't been to France before and rather than try and see the whole country in 3 weeks, we'll just see a bit and enjoy our holiday.

I'm also trying to organise a little trip to London as a surprise for Greg. The reason/excuse we're going to Paris is for his 50th birthday and I have no idea what to buy him, so thought I'd get us tickets on the Eurostar and try to get his aunt who lives in Essex to either meet us in London or we'll go and visit her._________________Doing what you like is freedom
Liking what you do is happiness

Oh how fun! Great birthday! Our daughter Rachel will turn 16 while we are there.

Check with Ryanair.com for plane tickets. We got ours VERY cheap. We are flying out of Tours to London._________________There is immeasurable value in what I do. I will never believe otherwise.
www.notquitejunecleaver.com

one more thing...we will be in Normandy from May 1-5 looks like we are going to be passing each other on the way here and fro!_________________There is immeasurable value in what I do. I will never believe otherwise.
www.notquitejunecleaver.com

Remembering to read your trip I was surprised to find you did not enjoy France. Enough to leave long before you had planned! Maybe you just need more practice visiting places, or relaxing because of culture shock.

I read that trip report as well, spellchick. I was surprised to find out NQJC's reaction to the trip. It is probably because I love Paris so much that I suffer PPD (Post Paris Depression) whenever I leave. I could understand it, on the other hand. Used to know someone when we lived there in the 80s who hated it so much, her husband had to shorten his 2 year employment to take her home._________________"A man hath no better thing under the sun than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry."

I was surprised to read the above comments and went to NQJC's blog to read her France experience was not all she hoped for. I am surprised she went home early after looking forward to it for so long. I can't imagine wanting to go home early from anywhere in Europe._________________Barbara

Thanks for posting the pictures, Judy! It is good to see your three ladies with big smiles. Pierre is such a cute baby but who is the little blond boy?_________________"A man hath no better thing under the sun than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry."

Joined: 29 Sep 2004Posts: 1196Location: buried under a pile of books somewhere in Adelaide, South Australia

Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 3:21 am Post subject:

Thanks gingerpale and Lilia. Oops, sorry about the extra photos - I hadn't realised Greg had added others to the holiday snaps. The little blonde boy is Asher, my 18 month old nephew. There are a heap of family shots there of a Mother's Day lunch we had at our place. Asher is the first baby in the family in quite a few years - since Tom who is now 16 - and is always the focus of a lot of love and attention at family gatherings.

And the first photos in the link are of a solo kayaking trip Greg did in Iceland and Greenland a few years ago.